Airline execs more optimistic about profit

Top airline executives are growing more optimistic about future profit despite tough conditions in the third quarter, according to a survey released Monday by the International Air Transport Association.

In its third-quarter airline business confidence survey, the trade group said that there has been a “marked improvement in expectations for the coming year” compared with the last survey in July, despite little sign of traffic growth from June to September.

About 73 percent of chief financial officers surveyed expect an improvement in profitability over the next year, compared to 46 percent who expected things to get worse in July.

The survey revealed that executives now believe that traffic seems to be leveling off, although it is still weak.

Three airlines posted a profit in the third quarter — JetBlue, AirTran and Alaska Air Group.

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Paul Templeton is ATP's Regional Jet Program Director, and a regular contributor to PilotJobs.com. His extensive experience in the Regional Airline environment
gives him insight into the continually changing status of the industry. He served as Captain for 12 years at Piedmont Airlines and was also Chairman of the Master
Executive Council for ALPA, representing Piedmont Airlines.